8 Tweaks That Will Make Your Website Better, Today

If you want to improve your website, there are a lot of big changes you can make.

You can do a complete design overhaul. You can change your logos and branding. You can update all your copy and content. You can hire an SEO expert to get you to the top of Google searches.

Big changes like these are a great investment. They help your website stand out online and grow your small business. But they do take time.

So what do you do if you want to start taking action now and improve your website today?

Is that even possible?

The answer is a resounding yes! While you’re waiting for big changes to happen, you can start making small tweaks -- today! -- that will improve your online presence, grow your audience, and make your website more user-friendly.

1. Add social media follow buttons to your header

The time you spend creating and maintaining social media accounts can really pay off. Over 50% of Facebook users and 64% of Twitter users are more likely to buy from a company that they follow online. Having a social media presence allows customers to connect with and trust your brand.

But if they can’t find your social media presence, you might be wasting your time after all.

Customers don’t want to search for your Twitter or Instagram account. They don’t want to browse lists of Facebook pages to find your business. They want to go there directly from your website, with as little effort as possible. Make it easy for them to become followers by putting social media follow buttons into the header or footer of your website.

2. Include multiple ways to contact you

Some customers like the ease of filling out a contact form on a website. Others like to send an email directly from their account so they have a record of the communication. Still others will prefer to call with questions so they can speak directly to a person.

If your website only offers one way for customers to get in touch, you risk losing business. But if you offer multiple ways for clients to communicate with you, you appear more honest, transparent, and trustworthy. In other words, more like someone they’ll want to do business with.

Take a few minutes to add your customer service email and phone number onto your website. If you don’t already have a contact form, you can create one for whatever website builder you use, including WordPress, Shopify, SquareSpace, or others.

3. Put a map & hours on your contact page

Do you have a brick and mortar store? Then you need to make sure customers know where and when to visit you.

If you list your address on your contact page, they may be willing to plug it into a search engine and find out where you’re located. But why make them take the extra step? Put an interactive map on your website that shows exactly where you are located and allows get directions.

And while you’re at it, make sure you list your store hours as well. If a customer comes to you only to discover that the shop is closed, they are less likely to try a second time. Save them the wasted trip, and yourself a lost sale, by posting current hours front and center on your contact page.

4. Put social media share buttons on your blog posts & products

There are few things better for a brand than free publicity, and that’s exactly what social media can give you. When you add social media share buttons onto your posts and products, you allow visitors to promote your business to their own followers and friends.

5. Simplify your navigation

You don’t have a lot of time to capture customers’ attention when they land on your website. Statistics about how much time vary; some studies say 20 seconds, other say as little as 8 seconds. Either way, it’s not a lot of time -- and if they can’t find what they’re looking for in that time, they’re even more likely to click away.

However, customers are more likely to stay on a website when it’s easy for them to find what they need. To make this possible, update your navigation so it is as simple and clear as possible.

6. Proofread everything

Part of making a positive impression in a short amount of time is having error-free copy on your website. That doesn’t just mean avoiding outdated or incorrect information -- though that’s important too! The big thing to watch out for is spelling, grammar, and capitalization mistakes.

7. Make your URLs search-friendly

If you want customers to find your website online, then you need to make sure search engines can find your site first. An easy way to make your site search-friendly is tweaking your page URLs to make them easy for search engines to read.

Back to You

Your website is your best marketing tool in the online world -- it’s your business card, your place of business, and your customer service portal all bundled together. And you don’t have to be a marketing expert to start getting the best results possible from it. Dedicate a little time to implementing these eight tweaks, and you will start seeing a big difference!

Not sure you have that time? We understand. After all, running a business takes a lot of work!

If you’d rather have a team of experts make sure that your small business website is performing at the highest possible level, contact Spruce today. We’ve got everything you need to take your website to the next level!

AUTHOR

Katharine Paljug

Writer and blogger, helping you be online better. Morning person, tea enthusiast, and oxford comma supporter. Find her on Twitter as @kpaljug.